Just 30 community pharmacies in Northern Ireland have been commissioned to deliver the new MenB vaccine programme rolling out on Friday, in a move Community Pharmacy Northern Ireland’s (CPNI) chief executive has described as “disappointing”.
Gerard Greene said today that CPNI “welcomes the opportunity to support” the “important” meningitis vaccination programme.
But he added that “given the seriousness of MenB, it is disappointing that only 30 community pharmacies” have been commissioned to provide the vaccine.
Read more: Pharmacy MenB vac service launches amid stock concerns
According to the latest available figures, this represents only around 6% of Northern Ireland’s total community pharmacies.
“While these pharmacies have been selected because of their proximity to further and higher education providers, the wider community pharmacy network could have offered eligible young people greater choice and flexibility, particularly in pharmacies closer to home, over where and when to receive their vaccination,” Greene said.
He added that community pharmacy “has a strong track record of successfully delivering vaccination programmes at scale”.
Read more: Pharmacies to vaccinate students in ‘one-off’ MenB programme
And he noted that pharmacies “have been tasked with leading” a MenB vaccination programme in England, saying this demonstrates “the valuable contribution the sector can make when it is properly planned, commissioned and resourced”.
Northern Ireland’s MenB vaccination programme, launching on July 31, will offer jabs to people born between July 2, 2007 and July 1, 2008, as well as those under 25 who are heading to residential colleges or universities this autumn for the first time.
Vaccinations will be available “through GP practices and participating community pharmacies” across the country, the Public Health Agency said.
Read more: Community pharmacies in NI hit lowest number in a decade
It comes after England’s one-off MenB vaccination programme launched earlier this month, amid concerns that pharmacies have not been properly supported in the rollout.
The National Pharmacy Association warned at the time that some pharmacies “do not currently have sufficient stock” and have “had to reduce appointments” until they are allocated enough vaccines to meet demand.
